Columbus Blue Jackets re-sign young striker

The Columbus Blue Jackets have given one of their best young players a well-deserved new contract. The Blue Jackets announced that they have signed 21-year-old forward Cole Sillinger to a two-year contract.

Sillinger will remain with the Blue Jackets through the 2025/26 season, earning $2.25 million annually over the salary cap.

Don Waddell is new to the Blue Jackets as president and general manager, but he knows how important Sillinger is to the team.

“Cole Sillinger is a very smart center who plays both ways and competes extremely hard at both ends of the ice,” Waddell said in a press release. “He played over 200 NHL games before his 21st birthday and is coming off his best season, so we look forward to his continued development as a player. He will be an important part of the present and future of this club.”

Sillinger has played 220 games for the Blue Jackets over three seasons, during which time the Columbus native scored 32 goals and 42 assists for 74 points. 2023-24 was a career year in terms of points, as he scored 32 (13 goals, 19 assists) in 77 games.

The Blue Jackets selected Sillinger in the first round (12th overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft. As an 18-year-old rookie, he played 79 games in 2021-22 and scored 31 points (16 goals, 15 assists).

Sillinger is slated to begin the 2024-25 season as the Blue Jackets’ third-line center and best shorthanded player. His two-way play makes him a crucial part of the Blue Jackets’ lineup.

The Blue Jackets believe they have a solid group of young players that can lead the team out of relegation, and Sillinger is a key to future success.

Sillinger was the last remaining restricted free agent on the Blue Jackets’ NHL roster. At the end of this new contract, Sillinger will still be a restricted free agent.

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